I’ve never watched an FA Cup Final before, but I’d have to say this was one of the most dramatic football games I have ever seen this past year. It could be argued that the ebb and flow was better than in Liverpool’s thrilling comeback against AC and Barcelona’s dramatic win over Arsenal in last and this year’s Champion’s League finals respectively. And this game had an extra 30 minutes plus penalty kicks. The sight in the extra time was like more reminiscent of a battlefield than a soccer games as one after another player collapsed from exhaustion or injury.
Applying Univision’s old commentator Norberto Longo’s rule about players and teams (great players make great teams and great teams make great games), Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard right now is as fine a player as there is in the world. On my personal list I think he’s right behind Ronaldinho and Henry. His scintillating performance in this game has lifted him into that spot on my list. The man was simply brilliant in this game. To borrow from basketball’s vernacular, he was simply Jordanesque in that he would not allow his team to lose. He had a hand in all three goals (assisting brilliantly on the first and personally scoring the last two). He also made his PK in decisive manner.
West Ham went up 2-0 thanks in part to an own goal by Jamie Carragher and a quirky rebound goal by Ashton . Liverpool pulled one back after a beautiful pass from Gerrard was finished off by a sliding volley by Cisse. Then Gerrard made it 2-2 after a beautiful strike to the roof of the net on a rebound. West Ham went back up on a crazy center/shot from Konchesky, only to see Gerrard tie in extra time with an absolute ‘screamer’ from 35 yards out.
In the extra time, apart from the battlefield like scenario, Harewood of West Ham actually had the best chance in 5 yards in front of goal after a stupendous save from Pepe Reyna that knocked a dangerous ball of the post and back into play. All Harewood had to do was come up with an easy half volley to win this for West Ham but apparently he also was too exhausted to do that as he shanked it wide left. It was pretty obvious Liverpool just played it out for the PKs.
The PK’s were anti-climatic (as they usually are) as West Ham just couldn’t put into net (they only managed 1) as Liverpool converted 3. For a second year in a row, Liverpool managed a thrilling comeback win to lift a major trophy.
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